Do you know when your vehicle battery needs to be replaced? Testing your vehicle battery health will ensure you don’t encounter a dead battery. Summer months are especially hard on it.
It’s important th
You can buy a battery tester to be able to test the battery yourself, it’s called a multimeter, or take your vehicle to any local shop or auto parts store for free testing.
TEST THE BATTERY VOLTAGE YOURSELF
- Turn off the ignition and any accessories like lights or the radio in the vehicle.
- If your multimeter is not autoranging, set it to 20V DC.
- Place the red lead on the positive battery terminal (indicated by a red cover or a + symbol).
- Place the black lead on the negative terminal.
- Read the measurement. If the reading is below 12.4 volts, you may need to charge your battery.
How to keep your car battery from dying
- Keep your battery terminals clean and free of debris
- Ensure that the connectors are tight and have not come loose
- Regularly carry out inspections & tests to get on top of small issues before they become big problems
- Start your engine up regularly and leave your car running for a little while
- Avoid driving at night or early in the morning when the weather is coldest
- Purchase a battery cover to protect it from the cold
- Clean away any corrosion from the terminals using a toothbrush and a solution of baking soda and water
- Buy a trickle charger to keep your car battery topped up
The 8 Car Battery Types
Before we get into the different types, it’s important to note why there are so many types in the first place.
It’s largely down to power. Remember, modern cars have varying power needs. As such, car batteries also differ to suit those needs.
1. Flooded Lead Acid Battery (Wet Cell)
2. Silver Calcium Battery
3. Enhanced Flooded Battery (EFB)
4. Gel Cell Battery (Dry Cell)